Citrix gives a sneak peek at upcoming iPad client

Citrix Systems is preparing a new version of its Receiver client for Apple iPads running iOS 4.2, the company said on Wednesday at its Synergy user conference.

The upcoming client, which will come with a virtual mouse, was demoed at the end of CEO Mark Templeton's keynote. Receiver is Citrix's client for running Windows desktops and applications virtually on a whole host of devices, including the iPad. The first iteration of the client for the iPad has been available since April.

The touch-controlled mouse is there to make the user experience more Windows-like, according to Citrix.

Citrix also demonstrated how it is able to take advantage of the ability to do multitasking, by starting an application and then doing something else and going back to the desktop and continue to work.

By attaching the iPad to a projector and an external keyboard Citrix was able to turn the tablet into a full fledged enterprise desktop. The iPad itself doubles as a big touch-enabled mouse in this configuration.

Citrix has made it easier to add new applications while on the iPad, as well.

The iOS 4.2 update is scheduled to become available in November, according to Apple.

Citrix is clearly a big fan of the iPad and how it expands the way its products can be used, but the company's strategy is to make Receiver available on as many products as possible. On Tuesday, Citrix announced that it is working with Samsung on a version of the Receiver for Samsung's Galaxy Tab.

Citrix also offers an iPad application for its online GoToMeeting conferencing service. On Wednesday, Citrix announced video support for the desktop version. Whether a future version of the iPad application will be able to handle video has yet to be decided, according to Citrix.

The company is also working on a GoToMeeting application for the iPhone, according to Templeton, who didn't elaborate on when it would arrive.

The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.

My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.

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